Once I come up with an idea for a shoot, I pretty much start brainstorming allthe possible props and wardrobe that I need. That's part of how I come up withan idea is I've already kind of got a list of exactly how I want to look and soI just need to visualize it within the photo.So if I can, I like to be able to go to the location and maybe snap some scout photos.If it's a place I can't look at before the shoot, then I'll look up online orsomething to get a kind a visualization of the space that I'll be using.

And then from there, I'll either do little sketches, in my journal orbe able to print them out and kind of actually write down where subject will be,where props will be, where I'll potentially be putting lights.So that way when I show up to actually shoot, I have like a map of whereto begin, basically.So, right now I've kind of got a location for this self-portrait in front ofthis big window. It's very pretty. It's got good light.And I'm thinking the shoot can go either, can go two ways.

It can be really light and airy or kind of dark and moody, and that's actuallysomething I might kind of play with once I get there. Figure out how--what works best for lighting and everything.And mostly what I do is try and tell a story within one photo, or kind of createsomething that the viewer may wonder what's going on outside of the frame orwhat's going to happen next, or maybe what just happened.So, kind of always alluding to something that's maybe not exactly pictured, butstill all captured within one frame.

And this way I like to be able to figure out how I am going to light thingsbefore I go on to this situation.For the self-portrait, I do want daylight kind of happening through, so I doknow that I want to shoot that first when I get kind of this good dappled light on the trees.And I'll probably just kind of want it to be more simple and more about the environment.What I'll probably do more in this scene is remove elements that are already inthe room and keep it very simple, so maybe move the couch out and maybe move achair around and definitely the coffee table, but then bring maybe some flowersto kind of dress the scene, kind of bring in--something to bring the attentionhere without having too many extra elements.

So, for this I've just kind of-- I need to keep an eye out for, like a nicelight-colored dress, or I was thinking even like a nightgown because I amgoing to try and see if I can shoot by--during the day by--create areflection on the window.So I want to try and light it so that I am lit from the front, facing the window,and then there is a slight reflection of maybe my face or the binoculars thatI'm holding, reflected onto the window that you can see from camera.

And I say I want to try because I've never really lit something like this.And a lot of times I'll use my self-portraits as tests for ideas that I have,that may or may not work out.So, I know I'm not going to get frustrated or annoyed if I am sitting there andlighting isn't working out. And part of the reason it's fun to doself-portraits is be able to kind of push to yourself and try things that youwouldn't necessarily have the patience for otherwise.

If I try and get like a reflection, I'll be stoked, but if not, then I think I'llstill be able to make something that I'll be happy to show.

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Author

Released

11/21/2012

Lauren Lemon is the online persona for Lauren Randolph, a photographer based in Los Angeles. She built her photography career in part through a series of personal projects, including taking one self-portrait a day for an entire year in 2009. She's also one of the most popular photographers on Instagram, with more than 200,000 followers.

In this first installment of The Creative Spark, she talks about the importance of social networks and personal projects in establishing a photography career. We follow Lauren for the day as she plans and choreographs a creative photo shoot in her distinctive visual style and uses Instagram as part of her creative process.